Pokemon: The Gameboy Effect

BOOM!

A thunderous impact echoed across the arena as Dragonite's Brick Break connected with Mega Aggron's crossed arms. The shockwave rippled outward like a hurricane, spider-web cracks spreading across the reinforced walls behind the steel giant as if the entire structure might collapse.

Yet at the center of this devastating impact, Mega Aggron stood completely unmoved. Only a thin white scratch marred the gleaming golden armor, proof that Dragonite's attack had indeed connected. Within seconds, even that mark began to fade.

Mega Aggron raised its proud head within its steel helmet, looking down at Dragonite with unmistakable disdain, as if asking: That's it? Did you even try?

Dragonite stared in disbelief, wondering if perhaps it had been spending a bit too much time socializing with the female dragons back at the ranch instead of training. How else could its full-power assault have accomplished absolutely nothing?

Damon could only grit his teeth and curse silently. 'Does this kid have a Mega Stone mine in his backyard? First Gardevoir, then Garchomp, now Aggron...'

The tactical situation had shifted dramatically. Mega Aggron's evolution had stripped away its Rock typing, leaving only Steel, reducing Brick Break's quadruple damage to mere double effectiveness. More importantly, Mega Evolution had granted it the Filter ability, which reduced super-effective damage by 25%. Combined with Mega Aggron's legendary physical defense, Dragonite's Fighting-type assault had been like punching a mountain.

What truly worried Damon wasn't just Mega Aggron's power, it was the complete unknown factor. According to all his intelligence, John had never used Aggron in any official battle. Yet the fact that it could Mega Evolve meant extensive training over a long period. He was fighting blind against a completely unexpected opponent.

Power wasn't frightening. The unknown was terrifying.

"Smack Down!" John called out with a slight smile, immediately seizing the initiative.

Smack Down was a Rock-type move with a special property, any Flying-type hit by it would be grounded, losing their aerial advantage and becoming vulnerable to Ground-type attacks. Perfect for bringing down dragons.

"AGGRON!" Mega Aggron's intimidating bellow shook the arena as it raised one massive claw, brown energy swirling around it as it swung toward the nearby Dragonite.

"Quick, dodge!" Damon's Elite Four instincts kicked in despite his surprise.

Dragonite proved why it was called an "agile fatty," displaying remarkable grace despite its bulky appearance. With light steps and a flap of its small wings, it drifted away like a gentle breeze, barely avoiding Mega Aggron's claw by centimeters.

But Mega Aggron didn't stop its motion after the apparent miss. Instead, it accelerated, slamming its massive claw into the battlefield floor with tremendous force.

CRASH!

From the point of impact, towering golden pillars erupted from the ground one after another, each over ten meters tall! Damon barely had time to shout a warning before Dragonite's agility could only carry it past the first two pillars. The third caught it squarely, launching the dragon high into the air to face a barrage of golden spikes.

Only then did the crowd realize the deception. Mega Aggron hadn't used Smack Down at all? it had executed Stone Edge, a devastating Rock-type attack. The initial swing had been pure misdirection!

Damon couldn't have predicted such a feint. In close combat with sudden explosions of action, unless he could read minds, such tactics were nearly impossible to counter.

"Aerial Ace!" Damon called out, adapting quickly to the situation.

Battered by the golden spikes, Dragonite gritted its teeth and spun in mid-air. Its wings glowed brilliant white as it carved through the falling projectiles. But instead of following up with the typical Aerial Ace diving attack, Dragonite retreated toward its trainer, clearly planning to regroup and reassess.

"Aggron, Sandstorm!" John commanded casually, showing no urgency.

With a defensive powerhouse like Mega Aggron, he could afford to play a patient game. Besides, Dragonite had already taken significant damage from the consecutive Rock-type attacks? it wouldn't be long before the accumulated injuries took their toll.

"AGG-RON!" Mega Aggron's roar filled the arena once more.

Powerful winds swept across the battlefield, somehow conjuring yellow sand from nowhere, whipping it into a howling storm. Within moments, visibility plummeted as stinging sand filled the air, transforming the pristine arena into what felt like the heart of a desert wasteland.

"Fire Blast!" Damon decided on a new approach.

Dragonite's Brick Break had proven that Mega Aggron's physical defenses were every bit as formidable as advertised. But that incredible defense was primarily physical, its special defense, while improved through Mega Evolution, remained the steel giant's relative weakness. And with Steel typing being vulnerable to Fire attacks, Fire Blast was Dragonite's best bet for meaningful damage.

Dragonite took a deep breath, its large mouth filling with violent orange flames that sparked and overflowed from the corners. In the next instant, it expelled a basketball-sized fireball that rapidly expanded mid-flight, forming a two-meter-wide character blazing toward Mega Aggron.

As a heavyweight Pokemon, Mega Aggron's dictionary contained no entry for "dodge", only "face it head-on."

John calmly pointed downward, his voice cutting through the sandstorm: "Aggron, Wonder Room!"